News from Patrick Flynn

I’m not enjoying writing this in mid-November, in advance of events I expect to occur prior to my posting it, but I’m not sure I can avoid writing it, either.  When I do publish this it will be on the heels of an announcement that Governor Sheffield is no longer Director of the Port of Anchorage, perhaps assuming a post like congressional liaison, but resigned from the post he’s held since the Wuerch administration. (more…)

I’m struggling as I write this, trying to keep in mind two thoughts from those who preceded me.  The first comes from John F. Kennedy:

“I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

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I was out and about last weekend, particularly on Sunday, enjoying our fantastic spring weather.  Gazing out at Knik Arm I happened to note, for at least the second time this year, a TOTE vessel loitering mid-channel during a low tide, which harkens back to the Assembly’s establishment of the port committee.  That’s as good a reason as any for another update.

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As mentioned previously, I’ve been awaiting a letter from the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding their review of the Port of Anchorage’s expansion project.  The letter has arrived (I was cc’d), and here’s how it read:

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The most recent Port committee meeting, conducted on Thursday, October 14, was interesting for a couple of reasons.  First, the subject matter, which was thoughtful and in-depth.  Second, the large crowd attending the discussion.  More on that latter point later, here was the agenda:

1. Update on navigability for TOTE at the North Extension.
2. Inspection results for last year’s work.
3. Discussion of seismic stability testing for open-cell sheet pile technology employed for this project.
4. Update on future finance plans.

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Yes, I know, it’s been a while since my last post.  I’ve been pretty busy, though, so here’s an update as to what’s been going on:

Next Port committee meeting:

It took a while to coordinate all the schedules but the Port committee is slated to re-convene on Thursday, October 14, at 9 am in City Hall, room 155.  For a preview of the agenda see my last post on this issue.

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For those unable to attend, here’s an update from most recent Port committee meeting:

Budget:

Total funds “obligated” to date are $257 million.  Obligated funds mean they’ve been designated to pay for work and contracts for that work have been let but the dollars have not necessarily changed hands, some of which occurs after work is complete, inspected, etc.

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Tomorrow’s Port committee meeting has been postponed.  Here’s the message I sent to committee members and stakeholders:

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The next meeting of the Assembly’s Port committee will take place on Tuesday, August 10, from 10 am to noon at City Hall in the first floor conference room (suite 155).  The agenda will be as follows:

1. Updated project schedule:

a. Port/ICRC/MARAD update on project timeline and projected effects on Port users.

b. Army Corps of Engineers comments related to dredging.

c. Port user comments.

2. Review and discussion of project budget distributed at June 10 meeting.

3. Synopsis of port-related discussions at the recent joint work session of the Anchorage & Mat-Su Assemblies (this item may go first).

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As promised, the Port committee’s June 10 meeting focused on dredging (underwater excavation) issues and featured an extensive presentation from local representatives of the US Army Corps of Engineers.  We covered a lot of ground, and here are some highlights:

• Anchorage’s port is one of the only, if not the only, ports where the Corps is permitted to dredge right up to the dock face where ships berth.  In other locations the Corps dredges shipping channels but not ship berths, and the anomaly appears to stem from the port’s former status as an Army port.
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